Fallout games with the best stories

Key points

• Fallout's world-building explores social, ethical, and moral themes, adding depth and complexity to the series.
• Fallout 76's online focus initially lacked depth but improved with the addition of human NPCs in the Wastelanders expansion.
• Fallout 2 stands out as the franchise's pinnacle of storytelling, offering a complex, expansive narrative with impactful choices.

As one of the most popular video game franchises, Fall attracts attention thanks to its post-apocalyptic setting and unique narrative. The game combines elements of science fiction, drama, and social parody to explore human nature in extreme situations, making the franchise's world-building a hallmark among role-playing games.

The franchise stands out for its exploration of social, ethical and moral themes, offering immersive experiences that challenge players to reflect on their decisions. Each title adds more depth to the series' incredible universe. Therefore, the Fall the games with the best stories are those that manage to develop not only the plot but also the complex characters of the universe.

6 Fallout76

A story limited by being an online game

Moving away from the franchise's tradition of offline games, Fallout76 takes players to the year 2102, just twenty-five years after the Great Nuclear War that shaped the world of the game. As a prequel to the entire series, the game introduced a focus on multiplayer, and thus, the entire narrative changed.

For example, initially there were no plans for Fallout76 have human NPCs. Players who ventured into the game during its early years experienced a story told through audio logs and environmental elements, resulting in a less deep narrative. Even if it made sense for what Fallout76 aimed to present, the game did not match the depth of the series.

Subsequently, the Wastelanders expansion was released, bringing human NPCs into the game and adding various new content, such as quests and factions. This was fundamental to enrich the narrative, introducing several elements that made the online experience closer to the classic atmosphere of the franchise without neglecting the multiplayer focus and interaction with players.

5 Fallout 4

A game with excellent exploration and freedom

Here, players control the Sole Survivor of Vault 111, one of several locations where Vault-Tec conducted its gruesome experiments, placing the inhabitants in cryogenic sleep chambers. More than 210 years after the start of the Great Nuclear War, the character must discover the whereabouts of his kidnapped son while dealing with factions vying for power in the Commonwealth.

Although the story of Fallout 4 presents some highlights, such as emotional moments, extremely interesting characters and various well-crafted missions, sometimes the narrative fails to reach the same depth as previous titles. The story is more linear in many ways, lessening the impact of different choices you have to make.

On the other hand, although Fallout 4The plot of is not as complex as that of other games, the title features one of the best open worlds of the franchise, accompanied by excellent gameplay. In addition to building settlements, players can also customize various equipment, making each adventure in the Commonwealth a unique experience.

4 Relapse 1

A milestone in the history of isometric role-playing games

Published in 1997, the first Fall was responsible for establishing all the foundations that define the franchise, introducing a unique and well-developed post-apocalyptic universe. While the main plot of the game is relatively simple, focusing on the protagonist's search for a water chip to save his vault, the world-building of the title is truly incredible.

Characterized by a retro-futuristic atmosphere inspired mainly by the 1940s and 1950s but also by previous years, Relapse 1 combines elements of science fiction with a dystopian vision of the future in which humanity has invested in nuclear energy. This setting, along with a variety of characters and factions, as well as iconic creatures and locations, contributed to world-building that captivated players.

Furthermore, Relapse 1 it introduced well-crafted game mechanics for its time, such as freedom of choice in story interactions and the ability to significantly influence the world around you. This element, combined with one of the best stories in Fallhe has been central to the franchise's success and relevance to this day.

3 Fallout 3

The first game of a new era in the franchise

Being the first game in the series produced by Bethesda Game Studios, Fallout 3 marked a significant transformation in the series by moving from isometric perspective to a first- or third-person 3D environment. This change allowed for a deeper immersion into the series' post-apocalyptic universe, offering an even greater viewing experience.

Bethesda also did a great job with the narrative, focusing the story on the Lone Wanderer, a resident of Vault 101 who needs to explore the Wasteland in search of his missing father. Throughout the journey, Bethesda was able to expertly translate elements that fans were accustomed to in the franchise's isometric games, presenting new details of a society trying to rebuild after the Great War.

Also, following other Bethesda game traditions, Fallout 3 features an even larger open world, full of side quests and memorable characters to find throughout the map. Therefore, one of the main points of the franchise has become the freedom of exploration that players enjoy, cementing this game as one of the cornerstones of the series and attracting a new generation of fans.

2 Fallout: New Vegas

A return to the roots in the 3D era of the franchise

Produced by Obsidian Entertainment instead of Bethesda, Fallout: New Vegas sought a return to the essence of the first two titles in the series, introducing this narrative into the 3D environment presented Fallout 3. Through one of the best stories in the franchise, characterized by a complex and branching narrative, the game allowed the choices made during the missions to directly influence the unfolding of the entire plot.

Set in the Mojave Wasteland, the game features the surprisingly preserved city of New Vegas contrasting with the desert devastated by the Great War, offering a glimpse of the charm of the past. This setting is the stage for an engaging story, with various factions vying for control of the region.

Players take on the role of the Courier who, after surviving an assassination attempt, seeks revenge and answers about the events of the story. During this journey, the protagonist interacts with various major and minor factions, each with different agendas and plans for the city of New Vegas and the entire region, leaving players to decide the fate of each.

1 Relapse 2

The pinnacle of the series' storytelling

Own one of the best stories in Fallthe second game in the series is a natural evolution of the first game. Building on the foundations established by his predecessor, Relapse 2 expanded this post-apocalyptic universe, introducing a larger and more complex story, full of choices that had a direct impact on the narrative, as well as memorable characters, especially the villains.

In this game, the protagonist is the Chosen One, a descendant of the Vault Dweller from the first one Fallwho embarks on a journey in search of the GECK, a device capable of saving their village from destruction. The narrative delves into themes such as survival, morality and the impact of pre-war technologies.

Furthermore, Relapse 2 significantly expands the game world, introducing new factions, cultures and conflicts. In this context, the protagonist must also face the Enclave, the remnants of the former United States government that seeks to impose an authoritarian vision on the world of the series, representing an imminent danger for everyone.